The packaging industry continues to be a hotbed of patent innovation. Activity is driven by recyclability, automation, and increasing the shelf life of the product, and the growing importance of technologies, such as biodegradable packaging, Internet of Things, and active packaging. In the last three years alone, there have been over 18,000 patents filed and granted in the packaging industry, according to GlobalData’s report on Innovation in packaging: antibacterial waterproof packaging.
However, not all innovations are equal and nor do they follow a constant upward trend. Instead, their evolution takes the form of an S-shaped curve that reflects their typical lifecycle from early emergence to accelerating adoption, before finally stabilizing and reaching maturity.
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Identifying where a particular innovation is on this journey, especially those that are in the emerging and accelerating stages, is essential for understanding their current level of adoption and the likely future trajectory and impact they will have.
30+ innovations will shape the packaging industry
According to GlobalData’s Technology Foresights, which plots the S-curve for the packaging industry using innovation intensity models built on over 83,000 patents, there are 30+ innovation areas that will shape the future of the industry.
Within the emerging innovation stage, cellulose fiber 3D Printing, multilayer barrier films, and biodegradable packaging films with energy recovery are disruptive technologies that are in the early stages of application and should be tracked closely. Beverage capsules, clamshell-type packaging, and threaded container sealing are some of the accelerating innovation areas, where adoption has been steadily increasing. Among maturing innovation areas are thermal-insulated containers and multi-pack shrink wrapping, which are now well established in the industry.
Innovation S-curve for the packaging industry
Antibacterial waterproof packaging paper is a key innovation area in packaging
The presence of antibacterial waterproof layers and a paper layer helps the antimicrobial waterproof packaging to ensure increased product protection against harmful microbes.
GlobalData’s analysis also uncovers the companies at the forefront of each innovation area and assesses the potential reach and impact of their patenting activity across different applications and geographies. According to GlobalData, there are 260+ companies, spanning technology vendors, established packaging companies, and up-and-coming start-ups engaged in the development and application of antibacterial waterproof packaging paper.
Key players in antibacterial waterproof packaging paper – a disruptive innovation in the packaging industry
‘Application diversity’ measures the number of applications identified for each patent. It broadly splits companies into either ‘niche’ or ‘diversified’ innovators.
‘Geographic reach’ refers to the number of countries each patent is registered in. It reflects the breadth of geographic application intended, ranging from ‘global’ to ‘local’.
Patent volumes related to antibacterial waterproof packaging paper
Source: GlobalData Patent Analytics
Stora Enso is the leading patent filer in antibacterial waterproof packaging paper. Some other key patent filers in the space include Kemira, Daikin Industries, Westrock, and Dow.
In terms of application diversity, Stora Enso leads the pack, while Kemira, and Daikin Industries stand in second and third positions, respectively. By means of geographic reach, Yagna holds the top position, followed by Novo Nordisk Foundation and Hansol, respectively.
Scientists from Nanyang Technological University (NTU) Singapore and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health developed a waterproof, biodegradable, and antibacterial food packaging that is claimed to kill harmful microbes thereby extending the shelf life of food products.
With consumers looking for greater product safety and hygiene, antibacterial waterproof packaging paper is expected to gain popularity and will potentially become an important product in the packaging industry.
To further understand the key themes and technologies disrupting the packaging industry, access GlobalData’s latest thematic research report on Packaging.
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GlobalData, the leading provider of industry intelligence, provided the underlying data, research, and analysis used to produce this article.
GlobalData’s Patent Analytics tracks patent filings and grants from official offices around the world. Textual analysis and official patent classifications are used to group patents into key thematic areas and link them to specific companies across the world’s largest industries.
